M For Marina: A Larina Fanfiction

FIFTEEN

"Marina?" I asked, letting go of the stall door so it could shut behind me. It was Marina. Marina. It was the Marina. The Marina who hadn't responded to my texts and hadn't answered my calls. The one who ran away from me, leaving me deserted. The one who had sex with me for no reason. But also the one who was my friend.

"Lizzy?" she gasped. "What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?" I threw back at her.

"I like amusement parks," she shrugged. She emitted an expression of fear and worry.

"What's wrong, honey?" I ask, stripping me of my confidence and filling me with solicitude. My bitch act was ruined, I couldn't stay mad at her, I liked her too much.

I liked her. I really liked her.

She bent her head down at the floor, watching her feet shuffle. She had the look as if she was about to start crying.

"Hey," I cooed, cupping her cheek. "What's wrong?"

She glanced up at me with a look of horror. I was being too tender.

I gasped and drew my hand back, choking from gasping the wrong way.

"Are you okay?" Marina asked, changing from her dejection, patting my back. She seemed concerned for me.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine," I coughed.

"No you're not," she argued, her vulnerable side still showing. She was still very much upset. "I'll be right back."

She darted out of the room, leaving me unsure on what to think. I just choked?

Shortly after, the door burst open and in came a running Marina with a plastic cup. She rushed to one of the taps and filled the cup with water.

She handed it to me, "Here, sweetie, are you okay?"

I took a sip of the water, "Yeah, I just choked."

"It looked like you were dying," she insisted.

"Well, I'm sorry I scared you," I laughed.

"You scared me, alright!"

"Why? I just choked," I repeated.

"Because...I care for you," she admitted. What?

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused. Why would she be avoiding me if she cared? And why would she do what she did that night?

"I like you, Lana," she said. She liked me? In what way?

"I like you too, Marina," I smiled, trying not to be too revealing. 

"No," she muttered. "Not like that." A painful expression flushed onto her face.

Not like that? More than that? She had the same feelings for me?

Suddenly, this outburst of suppressed sentiment became me. I loved her. Oh, I loved her! I realised just how much I really loved her. She was beautiful, sweet, caring--just absolutely perfect. 

But what if she didn't? I couldn't bear the embarrassment of Marina knowing of my feelings for her. 

"Like what, then?" I asked, trying to play it safe.

"Lizzy," she started. "I, er, don't think you want to know." Of course I want to know! Why wouldn't I?

"Trust me, you have no idea how much I do."

"No, I can't."

"I will not take no for an answer, that's how much I want to know."

She sighed, giving it. "Okay. You're going to regret this." I don't think so. But then again, I might have. What if it weren't mutual feelings for each other?

But what else could it be?

"Lizzy, I," she started. "I...I don't just like you."

"I love you."